shared lives
Camphill Village Trust Camphill Village Trust is a national charity which has over 65 years of experience, knowledge and passion in supporting people with learning disabilities, autism, mental ill health and complex needs. We have 10 communities and services across England, in both urban and rural settings. Wherever our communities are located, they are shaped by the people we support and driven by our passion to see everyone as active citizens with a life of opportunity. Over 500 people are supported by Camphill Village Trust’s staff and volunteers. Each community offers a variety of placements including day support, residential care and supported living.
In each of our communities and settings we explore how we can support, encourage and empower people to make informed life choices, and contribute to society in a way that brings purpose and meaning. We support people to learn new skills, grow in confidence and build self-esteem, through activities such as retail, catering, arts and crafts, printing, horticulture, animal husbandry, pottery and social farms & gardens.
Where are we based? Camphill Village Trust’s 10 communities and services are spread across England. Our West Midlands Shared Lives Scheme operates within a 10 to 15 mile radius of our Stourbridge community. Stourbridge acts as a hub to a network of Shared Lives Arrangements throughout the surrounding Black Country region, where everyone can have access to resources, activities and social events. To find full contact details for each community, please visit www.camphillvillagetrust.org.uk
Where our Shared Lives operate
Wolverhampton
Walsall
Dudley
West Bromwich Birmingham
Stourbridge Kidderminster Bromsgrove
Solihull
Redditch
*Please note map not to scale
What is Shared Lives? Shared Lives is sometimes described as being similar to providing ‘foster care for adults with additional/complex needs’, but it is so much more than that as we enable people to take control of their lives and make informed choices to maximise independence. The Person being supported is carefully matched to their Shared Lives Carer, who they will stay with. The carer provides tailored support to develop the Person’s practical, emotional and social skills. Training and support is given to all of Camphill Village Trust’s carers, so it doesn’t matter if you have never done anything like this before.
When someone comes to stay with the Shared Lives Carer on either a Live In or Short Break (respite) basis, we call this an ‘Arrangement’. A Shared Lives Carer can support a maximum of three people in their household at any one time. Shared Lives Carers can also offer Day Support, which acts as a stepping stone for people who may wish to develop the skills to lead more independent lives.
Shared Lives is for everyone to feel a sense of belonging, be valued as part of a family and have the opportunity to be actively involved with the wider community and local neighbourhood. There are approximately 12,000 adults being supported by around 9,000 carers in Shared Lives households across England.
The benefits of Shared Lives People lead longer, healthier and happier lives when living in Shared Lives Arrangements. They provide a more personable and cost-effective alternative to traditional settings such as hospitals or residential care. Shared Lives is beneficial for everyone. As well as consistently achieving greater outcomes for adults with additional needs, Shared Lives also has the lowest number of safeguarding enquiries in comparison to all other forms of Adult Social Care.
A recent survey of people using Shared Lives concluded that: 90% made new friends, 50% went on holiday for the first time, 35% learned a new household task and 13% volunteered in the local community. All Shared Lives Schemes are regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and Camphill Village Trust has been inspected and rated as ‘GOOD’.
Becoming a Shared Lives Carer You don’t need any qualifications or experience of working in the care sector (though it can help), all you need is the right values, dedication and of course a spare room. If you don’t own your own home you will need to ask your landlord’s permission to use the property for Shared Lives. You will need to be over 21 years of age, be able to read and write English and be committed to undertaking training and supervision for the continued development of your role. Shared Lives Carers are not paid by the hour, there is no clocking on and clocking off when you are supporting someone from within your own home but it’s hugely rewarding.
Shared Lives Carers have self-employed status and qualify for tax relief from HMRC. They are paid according to the level of support they provide, which can sometimes include personal care, such as bathing, dressing or toileting. Shared Lives Carers are very passionate about the work they do, they are extremely creative in how they support the Person achieve greater independence, but above all else they don’t make assumptions about people just because of the labels they may have been given.
It doesn’t matter if you are employed, not working or retired, you can still be a Shared Lives Carer
Next steps If you are interested in becoming a Shared Lives Carer for Camphill Village Trust, and live in the West Midlands, you can call us for more information on 01384 441505 or visit www.camphillvillagetrust.org.uk. We will arrange for one of our friendly and helpful team members to come and visit you and have a discussion about the assessment process, training, expectations and who you may support. After you have been given all the information and you feel you’d like to pursue being a Shared Lives Carer you will be given an application form. We will complete an assessment report that will include your life history, employment career and identify your values and motivations for wanting to become a Shared Lives Carer. You will also need to complete an Enhanced DBS Check, self-declaration of health, as well as provide employer and personal references and have relevant insurance cover.
We have a comprehensive induction programme for Carers. The induction includes group discussions which will focus on a range of topics such as roles and responsibilities, ethical dilemmas, safeguarding, communication skills and medication administration. An Independent Panel, made up of local people, who have an interest in Shared Lives will interview you and advise whether to approve you as a Shared Lives Carer.
From start to finish the whole assessment process takes between three and six months.
Why choose this Scheme? By choosing to be part of Camphill Village Trust Shared Lives you will have access to a wealth of information from the charity to support you in your new role. Benefits include: • Camphill Village Trust paying your first year’s membership to the national umbrella organisation Shared Lives Plus, including Public Liability Insurance to cover you for your role • An out of hours telephone service, so we will always be there to support you, no matter what time of day •
We provide regular support and monitoring visits to our Shared Lives Carers, who also have access to recommended workshops, E-learning and annual training days, supporting you in your professional development
• We have developed a bespoke Intranet system, which means you can access files and documents online •
The ability to connect to an already established support network, where you can take part in social events and celebrations with your local Camphill Village Trust community
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Those supported within Shared Lives Arrangements can have access to a variety of day or work opportunities and other resources offered by our Camphill Village Trust communities.
• You can earn between £19k - £29k annually as well as receive four weeks paid respite when providing a Live-in Arrangement. In addition to the above benefits, Camphill Village Trust has developed a Learn to Lead programme that enables people supported by the charity to help guide its direction and progress. This is further supported by Quality of Life Auditors who ensure people with disabilities are living the life they choose to lead.
Who do we support? A Shared Lives Arrangement works in a person-centred way. Individuals are supported to develop their skills to be as independent as possible and lead an ordinary life, at the heart of the community, just like you and me. We support anybody from the age of 18, and will undertake preparatory work with young adults who are making the transition from Children’s Services. Whilst Shared Lives is traditionally a service for people with learning disabilities, we have experience of setting up Arrangements for people with mental ill health, early-onset dementia, hospital discharges, older people, physical disabilities, people on the Autistic Spectrum and other complex support needs.
In fact, we will support anybody who has an assessed social care need and is able to fund the Shared Lives Arrangement that is right for them, and which meets the outcomes and goals identified. People who access Shared Lives will contribute to the cost of the Arrangement after a financial assessment is carried out by the social work team. This may also include payment for board and lodgings, and an application for housing benefit.
How to make a referral Whilst most referrals do come from professionals involved with Local Authority, NHS or Mental Health Trusts, families can make referrals and fund Arrangements privately, or use Personal / Health Budgets, especially for Short Breaks or Day Support.
If you think someone would benefit from a Shared Lives Arrangement, get in touch and speak to a member of our team about how we may support you. If we feel we can potentially offer an Arrangement, we will send out a referral form for you to complete. To assist with the ‘matching process’, it would be helpful if you could return it with supporting documents, such as review notes or care and support plans.
Matching is fundamental to the personcentred approach of Camphill Village Trust Shared Lives. We carefully consider the support needs and outcomes of the Person and match that against the skillset, experience and character of the Shared Lives Carer. We also consider cultural differences, age, home location, daily routines, interests and family or social networks. You may have to wait a little while whilst we find the right match - we are sure you’ll appreciate that during introductions we need to check everyone is happy and is given the opportunity to get to know each other, as this underpins the longevity and success of each Arrangement.
What are people saying? ‘It’s important that Camphill Village Trust continues to respond to our local communities and the changing social care world. We are pleased that our Shared Lives scheme and Stourbridge community is now at the centre of a wider network of Shared Lives Arrangements across the region, offering a greater choice of housing and support options to the people that need them.’ Huw John, Chief Executive, Camphill Village Trust
‘It’s just where I want to be. My carers always think of me, and Gavin makes a great curry!’ Michelle, person we support
‘I wish I had known about Shared Lives earlier, it’s been the best thing I’ve ever done; it’s very worthwhile and you’re helping someone else. If we had another spare room we would do it all again.’ Gina Homer, Shared Lives Carer
‘I love it here, I’m happy and I like going shopping, to football matches, the club and having my own room.’ Paul, person we support
‘Camphill Village Trust’s Shared Lives team is approachable, friendly and supportive. They provide specific training to all carers, enabling the scheme to accommodate people with a range of needs. The team go above and beyond their role when working in partnership with the carers, people they support and other agencies involved’ Local Social Worker
‘Shared Lives isn’t just providing someone with a place to live, but about offering choice and a nurturing environment. We love to watch people fulfil their true potential and feel honoured to be able to facilitate this within our family home.’ Linda & Jim Corbett, Shared Lives Carers
‘I have recently liaised with the Scheme to place someone in crisis and with high level support needs. The team was committed, passionate and responded creatively to remove barriers and find solutions to empower and maximise independence, which has made a huge difference to this person’s life.’ Referring Social Worker
To make a referral, apply to become a Shared Lives Carer, or if you just want to find out more about the Shared Lives Scheme or Camphill Village Trust, you can contact us at: Camphill Village Trust, Shared Lives West Midlands, Eagle House, St John’s Road, Stourbridge, Dudley, DY8 1HE 01384 441505 @CVTSharedLives camphillvillagetrust
www.camphillvillagetrust.org.uk Camphill Village Trust is a national charity, which supports adults with learning and other disabilities to lead a life of opportunity. To find out how you can support us visit the website. Registered Charity No. 232402